Safety diaper pin



Aug- 25, l964 F. B. VAZQUEZA 3,145,440

SAFETY DIAEER PIN Filed Aug. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FRANCISCO B. VAZQUEZ ATTORNEY Aug.25,1964 F.'BQVAZQUEZ I3,145,440

' SAFETY DIAPER PIN Filed Aug. l5. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F R A NCI SC O B. VAZQUEZ ATTOR NEY United States Patent O 3,145,449 SAFETY DIAPER PEI Francisco B. Vazquez, Coral Gables, Fla. (5920 Sea Cliff Road, McLean, Va.) Filed Ang. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 131,666 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-160) This invention relates to a safety pin and more particularly, to safety pins used to fasten infants diapers.

The ordinary well-known safety pin has many objectionable features when used in the pinning of an infants diapers. It exposes the infant as well as the user to being pricked by the pin point. It is awkward to handle and not reliable in holding the several layers of fairly thick diaper cloth together.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel diaper pin or clasping device for fastening diapers completely which eliminates the hazard of pricking or sticking the infant or the user with the point of the pin.

Another object is to provide a novel diaper pin or clasp in which the point of the pin is completely guarded when the pin is open, and also completely guarded when it is closed.

Still another object is to provide a pin or clasp which is attractive in design and easy to use by a novice.

Yet another object is to provide a safety diaper pin which has an effective spring clamping action that snaps positively open or positively closed, as desired.

A further object is to provide a safety diaper pin which can be readily and easily and positively opened or closed by a single-handed operation.

A still further object is to provide a safety diaper pin which can be made of a minimum of parts, having a novel yet simple snap spring clamping action, and which is of low cost to manufacture and assemble.

Another object is to provide a safety diaper pin in which the pin point is protectively covered and guarded when in its open position, and also protectively guarded when in its closed position, which is durable in construction, long wearing and completely secure and reliable in its clamping action.

The above and other objects and advantages in the novel safety diaper pin of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description and through reference to the accompanying drawings, in which two forms of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is an enlarged plan view of the preferred form of the safety diaper pin, made in accordance with this invention,

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the pin taken on the line 2--2 of FIGURE l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and illustrating the pin in open position with a fold of diaper to be pinned, shown in broken lines,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pin taken on the same line as FIGURE 2, illustrating the pin in closed position with a fold of diaper which has been pinned, shown in broken lines,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the safety diaper pin of this invention, shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, illustrating the pin in open position,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the pin shown in slightly larger than the actual size to be used, illustrating an animal, in this case, an elephant, which is one form in which the pin or clasp may be made,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed crosssectional view of the hinge section of the clasp,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged end view of an alternative form of the safety diaper pin of this invention,

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the form of the pin shown Mice in FIGURE 7, illustrating the pin in open position, with a fold of diaper to be pinned, shown in broken lines,

FIGURE 9 is another side View of the form of pin `shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, illustrating the pin in closed position with a fold of diaper which has been pinned, shown in broken lines,

FIGURE l() is a perspective view of the form of safety diaper pin of this invention, shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, illustrating the pin in closed position, and

FIGURE 1l is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view illustrating the hinge stop used in the form of this invention, illustrated in FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10, and

FIGURE l2 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary View of spring and plug shown in FIGURES 8 and 9.

Referring now specifically to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the numeral 15 designates generally the base of the pin which may be made of flat spring steel of a width approximating in proportion that illustrated in the drawings. In actual practice, the pin should be made approximately the size illustrated in FIGURE 5, or smaller, if desired.

The spring steel base, numbered generally 15, is shaped as clearly illustrated in the drawings, being bent hack upon itself to form a raised portion 16 or loop at its forward or open end. This raised looped portion has a pair of holes 17 extending therethrough to receive the points of each of a pair of pins 18, as shown, and to guard them. The outer layer 19 of the base 15 is not perforated, hence the pins 18 can not go beyond the layer 19. This absolately blocks and stops the further passage of the pin point so that it can not prick or stick anything beyond the base 15 when in the closed position shown in FIGURE 3.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the outer layer 19 of the spring steel base 15 is curved upwardly at 20, and then crimped downwardly at 21 to form the back and part of the hinge by which it is operatively connected with the dual upper portion, indicated generally by the numeral 3).

An inwardly pair of projecting hinge members 22 are formed in the upwardly curved back portion 20 of the outer layer 19 ofthe spring steel base 15, as shown. These hinge members 22 may be punched out of the metal, if desired, and they curve upwardly to act as part of a hinge, as will be hereinafter described, leaving punch holes 23.

An inner layer 26 o f the spring steel base 15 is the. upper layer of the base which is folded back upon the outer or lower layer 19, as clearly shown in the drawings. This inner layer 26 may be folded in close contact with the outer layer 19 along a portion of its length extending rearwardly and inwardly, as shown, extending from the raised loop 16 formed at the bend or outer end of the spring steel base 15. The inner layer 26 follows the upwardly curved back portion 20 until it is bent away from the back 20 towards the approximate center of the clasp, that is, in a reverse direction, to form a resilient spring lip 29.

The top 30 of the safety diaper pin of this invention comprises two parts- 31 being the outer part of the top 30, and 32 being the inner part of the top 30.

The inner end of the top 31 extends downwardly at 33 at about a 45 angle, and then is bent upwardly to form a hook 34. This downwardly extending inner portion 33 has two inwardly crimped hinge members 36, which are punched out of the portion 33 of the outer member 31. The lower or inner layer 32 of the top member 3@ is formed downwardly at 37 at about right angles to the lower layer 32 and is then formed upwardly in a gradual curve to form a link 38, having a pair of holes 39 which receive the hinge members 22, which are formed in the upwardly curving back portion 20 of the 3 outer layer 19 of the spring steel base 15, previously described, and as shown inthe drawings.

In this manner, the top 39 of the diaper safety pin is hingedly connected with the base of the pin.

It will'be noted that the pair of hinge members 36 pass through the vertical portion 37 of the inner layer 32 of the top 30 through suitable holes 49, forming a hinged connection between the outer layer 31 of the top 30 and the inner layer 32 respectively. It is thus apparent that the outer layer 31 of the top 30 is pivotally hinged to the inner layer 32 at the inner end thereof, so that it may be opened rotating on this particular hinged point, as shown in FIGURE 2, and closed against the lower layer 32, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The inwardly and upwardly curved portion 38 of the lower layer 32 of the top 30 is arranged in spring press contact with the inwardly extending lip 29 of the upper layer 26 of the steel spring base 15, again as clearly shown in the drawings, particularly in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

Attention is called to the fact that the upper and outer layer of the top 30 is reduced in width just ahead of the aforedescribed hinge members 22 and 33 so that the inner or lower layer 32 of the top 30, being of greater width, extends beyond the outer periphery of the upper layer 31 of the top 30 which provides a ledge against which the operators thumb can be pressed in unhinging and opening the safety pin.

The operation of this safety diaper pin clamping device is quite simple and readily understood by referring to the open position, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, which show two folds of diaper cloth 45, shown in broken lines, extending between the top portion 36 and the lower spring steel base 15. It will be noted that the hook portion 34 of the outer and upper layer 31 of the top 30-is adjacent to and in contact with the downwardly crimpedy portion 2l, formed at the upper end of the back 20 of the base 15, and forwardly disposed in relation thereto. The outer surface of the lower portion 21 should be smooth and preferably shaped in a manner to ride on the contacting portion of the hook 34 at all times except the moment that the end of the hook 34 passes the lower end of the portion 21 and snaps into closedy position. This constant contact relationship between the hookl 34` and the portion 21 serves as a stop limit to prevent movement of the outer andV inner portions 31 and 32v of the top-30 towards each other, and thus prevents movementof the pinbeyond the looped guard formed at the outer end of 32.

When the diaper is inserted between the upper and lower position of the clamp, the operator merely presses the top downwardlyagainst the spring tension of the lip 29, causing the pin 18 to pass through the opening 17 in the inner layer 32 of the topllon down through the folds of the diaperV 45, andthe pointA ofthe pin enters the hole` 17 in= the loopl, formedl in theouter end of the base 15 which guards the point of the pin, as`

previously described.

` The movement just described causes the upper and outer layer 31 of the top 30 to come into parallel relationship with each other, as shown in FIGURE 3, pivoting on the hinge 36, and-the resilient spring lip 29 is compressed by the inner andk upwardly curved portion 38 of the top 30, as shown in FIGURE 3, permittingthe hook 34 to engage the downwardly crimpedportion 21 of the back 20 of the base 15in an interlocking manner, asshown in FIGURE 3.

This operation is caused by pressing the top 30 towards the base 15 far enough to compress theresilient spring steel lip 29 to permit the hook 34 to pass the end of the downwardly crimped portion 21 of the base 15, and then upon release, the spring lip 29 will maintain the hoolc 34 and downward crimp 21 in interlocking relationship.

It is the pivotal action of the upper and outer layer 31 of the top 30 at its hinge point 33 in its relation to the lower layer 32 of the top 30` which causes the outer end surface of the hook 34 to ride downwardly along the outer surface of the lower portion 21 of the base 15 as it pivots on the hinge members 22, which causes the hook ultimately to pass the lower edge of the crimp portion 21 and snap into closed, locked position, as shown in FIGURE 3. The constant contact of the downwardly depending crimp portion 21 in relation to the outer edge of the hook 34 acts as a stop limit to determine the degree of opening of the clip, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, and also as a stop limit to anchor the parts in closed position, as shownin FIGURE 3.

Release of the safety diaper pin clamp is accomplished by the operator pressing his thumb ory a linger against the wide projecting portions of the layer 32 of the top 3i) and raising upwardly, with another linger, the outer end of the upper and outer layer 31 of the top 30, which compresses the spring lip 29, and permits the hook 34 to become disengaged by passing over the outer edge of the depending crimped portion 21.

It is readily apparent that this invention thus provides a positive spring snap toggle action for opening and closing the clamp, and positively maintaining it in either the open or closed position, as desired;

It is also apparent that the point of the pin 18 is always covered and protected when in the completelyopen or completely closed position, as shown in lthe drawings, and that there is no chance for the pin pricking or sticking either the user or the baby during the clamping operation because the pin will not start to move until the base 15 is in the closed position.

An alternative form of the safety diaper pin or clip of this invention is well illustrated in FIGURES 7, 8, 9, 10, 1l and l2 of the drawings.

FIGURE 8 shows the alternative form in open. position, and FIGURE'9 illustrates it in its closing position.

This alternative form consists of an upper portion 50' and a lower portion 51, which are hinged at 52, as shown in the drawings, and may be made of' plastic, metal, or any other desirable material. This form employs pins 53, which are suitably mounted in any well known desirable manner, in the upperand lower halves 50 and 51 respectively, with the points extending towards. the center of the open-jawedclamp formed by the upper and lower halves.

In the form illustrated in the drawings, particularly well shown in FIGURES 7 and l0, it will be noted that two pins 53 are xedly mounted in the upper half 50, and one pin 53 is ixedly in the lower half S1, in a manner in which' the lower pin 53 is centered between the upper pins 53.

It is to be understood that any number of pins is contemplated in the use of this invention. A single spring steel member 54, which acts in the Vmanner of a compression spring, and which is shaped as shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9, that is substantially U-shaped, be eX- panded at both of its outerends, wide enough to completely cover the pins 53. This flat steel spring 54 is bent inwardly ateach ofits outer ends'55 soy thatit is parallel to the inner surface of the outer ends of the lupper, and lower members 5G andV 51 respectively. The spring is fastened in any suitable manner to these outer ends.

The inner side edges of the flat spring 54 are maintainedl in fixed relation to theV upper and lower members 5i) and51 by means of inwardly extending projections 56 of both the upper and lower membersv 50 and 51, as clearly shownV inthe drawings.

The extreme inner ends of the members in 50'and 51 are turned-inwardly at and 61 to formprojecting lugs.k

A plug is mounted at the back of'this form of the safety diaper pin clamp, and has an outer head portion 66 and an inwardly cut groove 67, which is adapted to receive the inwardly projecting lugs 60 and 61 formed at the extreme inner ends of the members 5t) and 51, as

shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, and for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The inner surface 68 of the plug 65 abuts against the inner bend of the at steel spring 54. If desired, the plug 65 may be fixed to the spring by any suitable means. The spring 54 thus tends to urge the plug 65 constantly outwardly towards the rear of the safety diaper pin clamp. The spring in its normal position urges the clip to open. When the clip is closed against the diaper cloth, the spring is compressed, thus forcing the plug 65 to pass outwardly between the inwardly projecting lugs 60 and 61 until the lugs 60 and 61 are recessed in the groove 67.

A stop 70, which is formed at the rear of the upwardly extending hinged portion 71 rearwardly of and adjacent the pin 52 by which the upper and lower members 51 and 50 are hingedly fastened together, is designed to engage an indented portion 72 of the outer rear edge of the upper member 50 of the clamp of this form of the invention, to limit the amount of spread between the upper and lower portions 50 and 51 respectively, of the clamp when in its open position, as shown in FIGURE 8.

An enlarged detailed view of this limit stop 70 is shown in FIGURE 11.

The operation of this form of the invention is very easily understood by referring to FIGURES 8, 9, and particularly. Three elongated slot-like apertures 75 are formed in the outer rounded end portions of the spring 54 through which the pins 53 may pass when the pin is clamped together in closed position, and through which the pins 53 are withdrawn when the clamp is in open position.

A folded diaper 76, shown in dotted lines, is inserted between the upper and lower hinged members of this safety diaper pin clamp, as shown in FIGURE 8. It will be noted here that the plug 65 is in its innermost position with the outer lugs 60 and 61 of the upper and lower members Si) and 51 respectively, extending beyond the outer projecting end 66 of the plug 65. All the operator has to do is to squeeze the upper and lower hinged members 50 and 51 together, somewhat closer together than shown in FIGURE 9.

The pins 53 thus pierce the folds of the diaper and enter the elongated aperture 75 while the plug 65 is urged outwardly by the spring 54, permitting the lugs 60 and 61 to pass over the extreme outer projection 66 of the plug 65, whereupon they enter the grooves 67 of the plug 65 to lock the safety diaper pin clamp in closed position, shown in FIGURE 9. In this position, the diaper is securely pinned, there is no possibility of the pins 53 sticking or pricking either the baby or the operator, and a positive snap lock is mounted.

To release the clamp, it is only necessary to press the members 50 and 51 enough further together than is shown in FIGURE 9 to permit the lugs 60 and 61 of the upper and lower members 50 and 51 respectively, to be expanded beyond the outer edges 66 of the plug 65, and to press the plug 65 inwardly with the operators thumb to the open position, shown in FGURE 8, in which position it will be held by the pressure of the rear portion of the spring 54 urging the plug 65 against the projections 60 and 61 of the upper and lower portions 50 and 51.

The plug 65, which is shown with one groove 67 in the drawings, may be constructed with an additional groove or grooves, if desired, in order to allow the clip to be locked in different positions. For example, it is contemplated that by forming one or more grooves, gradually decreasing in depth from the outer portion of the plug towards its inner surface 68, it is possible to adjustably set the upper and lower portions 50 and 51 which form the jaws of the clip in a position wherein they are closer together than that shown in FIGURE 8, in varying degrees regulated by the depth and the spacing of the grooves. In this manner, the clip may be adjusted to stop and remain in diiferent stages of separation.

While the above described and accompanying drawings having illustrated a safety diaper pin or clip, it is contemb plated that this clip may be used by fastening other folds of cloth together other than diapers, and changes and adjustments in its specific form and design are contemplated, and the invention is only to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Having described this invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A safety pin clasping device having a one-piece relatively wide spring steel base member folded back double upon itself in a manner forming an outer and inner layer having a raised looped portion formed between said layers at the outer end thereof, the outer layer of said base member being curved upwardly at its back and arcuately downwardly above said back at its inner end to form a downwardly depending hook extending across the width of the extreme inner edge portion of the outer layer of said base member, the inner layer of the base member being folded back upon the outer layer thereof and following the upwardly curved back portion of said outer layer and being curved inwardly from said back portion to form a resilient spring lip, a two-piece top member operatively connected to said base member, by hinge means the outer piece of said two-piece top member having a downwardly extending portion with an upturned hook portion extending across the width of its extreme inner edge and adapted to engage the downwardly depending hook of the base member when the top member and base member are pressed together in a manner to hold the safety pin clasp in closed position, the inner piece of said two-piece top member being pivotally connected to the outer piece of said two-piece top member by second hinge means, adapted to operate independently of the first described hinge means and inwardly and upwardly extending curved inner portion of the inner piece of said two-piece top member being interlockingly and operatively engaged with the upwardly curved back of the base member to form the first hinge means, a downwardly extending pin fixed near the outer end of the outer piece of the top member, a loop portion formed along the outer edge of the inner piece of said top member, there being a pair of holes in the top and bottom of said loop portion adapted to guard the lower pointed end of the pin when the safety pin clasp is open and the outer and inner pieces of said twopiece top member are separated and to permit the pin to pass therethrough when the safety pin clasp is closed, and there being a hole formed in the top of the loop of the base member to receive the point of the pin when the safety pin clasp is closed in a manner to guard said pin point.

2. A safety pin clasp as described in claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the two-piece top member is wider throughout a portion of its length than the outer portion thereof.

3. A safety pin clasping device comprising a base member of spring material having an arcuate upwardly extending back portion formed at its extreme end into a downwardly depending hook, and a top member operatively and pivotally connected by hinge means to permit opening and closing of the clasp, a pin mounted in one of said members and means formed in the top member adapted to enclose and guard the pin point when the clasp is open, and means formed in the base member adapted to enclose and guard the pin point when the clasp is closed, said top member comprising two pieces which are connected together by a secondhinge means adapted to permit the two pieces to pivot at the hinge point in relation to each other, the outer piece of the top member having an inwardly turned hook portion formed along its inner edge adapted to interlockingly engage the downwardly depending hook portion of the base member in a manner to operatively maintain the top and base members in either positive open or positively closed position, the inner piece of the top member being extended arcuately inwardly beyond said hook portions in a manner to connect with the inner surface of the base member in operative hinged relationship, and the inner piece of the top member being wider throughout a portion of its length 1,371,593 than the outer portion thereof in a manner to facilitate 2,510,250 manual. opening and-c1osing ofthe clasping device. v 2,667,676

References Cited in the le of this patent 5 23,856,660

UNTED- STATES PATENTS Atwood Feb. 26, 1895 Germann Sept. 8, 1908 8 Karlson et al.. Mar. 15, 1921 Pereira et al. June 6, 1950 Sampson Feb. 2, 1954 Graham May 6, 1958 Twohig Oct. 21, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES.

British publicationl 452,498, received inl U.S. Patent Oce Oct. 7, 1936 (Y1 p; dwg.3 pp. spec.). 

1. A SAFETY PIN CLASPING DEVICE HAVING A ONE-PIECE RELATIVELY WIDE SPRING STEEL BASE MEMBER FOLDED BACK DOUBLE UPON ITSELF IN A MANNER FORMING AN OUTER AND INNER LAYER HAVING A RAISED LOOPED PORTION FORMED BETWEEN SAID LAYERS AT THE OUTER END THEREOF, THE OUTER LAYER OF SAID BASE MEMBER BEING CURVED UPWARDLY AT ITS BACK AND ARCUATELY DOWNWARDLY ABOVE SAID BACK AT ITS INNER END TO FORM A DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING HOOK EXTENDING ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE EXTREME INNER EDGE PORTION OF THE OUTER LAYER OF SAID BASE MEMBER, THE INNER EDGE PORTION OF THE OUTER LAYER OF BEING FOLDED BACK UPON THE OUTER LAYER THEREOF AND FOLLOWING THE UPWARDLY CURVED BACK PORTION OF SAID OUTER LAYER AND BEING CURVED INWARDLY FROM SAID BACK PORTION TO FORM A RESILIENT SPRING LIP, A TWO-PIECE TOP MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE MEMBER, BY HINGE MEANS THE OUTER PIECE OF SAID TWO-PIECE TOP MEMBER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION WITH AN UPTURNED HOOK PORTION EXTENDING ACROSS THE WIDTH OF ITS EXTREME INNER EDGE AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING HOOK OF THE BASE MEMBER WHEN THE TOP MEMBER AND BASE MEMBER ARE PRESSED TOGETHER IN A MANNER TO HOLD THE SAFETY PIN CLASP IN CLOSED POSITION, THE INNER PIECE OF SAID TWO-PIECE TOP MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OUTER PIECE OF SAID TWO-PIECE TOP MEMBER BY SECOND HINGE MEANS, ADAPTED TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FIRST DESCRIBED HINGE MEANS AND INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING CURVED INNER PORTION OF THE INNER PIECE OF SAID TWO-PIECE TOP MEMBER BEING INTERLOCKINGLY AND OPERATIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE UPWARDLY CURVED BACK OF THE BASE MEMBER TO FORM THE FIRST HINGE MEANS, A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING PIN FIXED NEAR THE OUTER END OF THE OUTER PIECE OF THE TOP MEMBER, A LOOP PORTION FORMED ALONG THE OUTER EDGE OF THE INNER PIECE OF SAID TOP MEMBER, THERE BEING A PAIR OF HOLES IN THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF SAID LOOP PORTION ADAPTED TO GUARD THE LOWER POINTED END OF THE PIN WHEN THE SAFETY PIN CLASP IS OPEN AND THE OUTER AND INNER PIECES OF SAID TWOPIECE TOP MEMBER ARE SEPARATED AND TO PERMIT THE PIN TO PASS THERETHROUGH WHEN THE SAFETY PIN CLASP IS CLOSED, AND THERE BEING A HOLE FORMED IN THE TOP OF THE LOOP OF THE BASE MEMBER TO RECEIVE THE POINT OF THE PIN WHEN THE SAFETY PIN CLASP IS CLOSED IN A MANNER TO GUARD SAID PIN POINT. 